The Ocklawaha River Basin - a multi-year adventure of its waterways and tributaries.
On October 11th, 2008, 8 great Wilderness Trekker kayakers ventured from Lake Louisa State park on an 11-mile, mostly lake trip to the Clermont boat ramp! Details regarding this trip is cataloged on the Wilderness Trekker Trip log. Now we move on to Part 2 of the Palatlakaha River.
If you want to skip the historical and personal background blabber below, you can go directly to either "Part 1" or the details for the up coming "Part 2".
Background, History, and geography of the Palatlakaha River.
The watershed of the Ocklawaha extends as far south as Polk county near Davenport. This is part of the Great Green Swamp that actually feeds 4 distinct rivers, the Withlacoochee, the Hillsborough, the Peace and the Ocklawaha. The Ocklawaha is fed by an obscure creek or river known as the Palatlakaha River which flows from the southern end of Lake county, up into the Clermont Chain of Lakes and into a swamp and canal system that eventually dumps out into Lake Harris. From Lake Harris, to Lake Eustis, through Hanes Creek and on into Lake Griffin and then you are on the Ocklawaha proper. Due to extreme and prolong droughts here in Central Florida, especially these past 2 summers, the Palatlakaha River has been virtually cut off from the Ocklawaha.
In 1980, a college friend and I made a 2 day canoe trip from Lake Susan, which is just north of Lake Louisa, to near Lake Harris via the north flowing Palatlakaha. In those days, it was nothing but orange groves and a few cattle ranches. Sight of any housing was virtually nill. The southern portions are mostly lakes, that would be the considered the "upper" Palatlakaha; while the northern portions are mostly swamp, canal, a few lakes, and eventually a defined stream, that would be considered the "lower" Palatlakaha. The swamp regions are typically dredged; hence long straight runs with a few lilly pads to dodge. The lower portion has small flood control gates, some no more than an earthen dike, others where you have to portage around tall concrete gates. Traversing these obstacle posed no problem nearly 30 years ago.
Fast forward to 2008, it is my intentions to repeat the Palatlakaha run; this time, along its entire length from the swamps of the Great Green to the Leesburg boat lunch. Bigger ideas include continuing from Lake Harris to the St. Johns over a period of a couple of years by planning numerous day and overnight paddling adventures. However, the greatest challenge to this lengthy feat is the sad possibility that the Palatlakaha is no longer traversable. Between droughts, development and subsequent water withdraws from the ground, navigation may be impossible on the lower Palatlakaha. This is especially true near the Florida Turnpike and U.S. 27 area where a huge golfing community may have exacerbated the situation. But for now, the southern, or "upper" Palatlakaha is available for paddling, simply because it is one of Florida's great chain of lakes. And in fact, Lake County has marked out a kayak/canoe trail called the Palatlakaha Run, just one of Lake County's Blueways.
The orginal Part 1 trip was planned for the 3rd week in August, but tropical storm Fay hung over east central Florida for just about 5 days. Dumping over 24 inches on parts of south Brevard and 14 to 18 inches in Seminole and Volusia counties. The Conway area got better than 11 inches. However, Fay had only marginal affects on the Great Green Swamp and raised the lakes up less than foot. The WT trip was rescheduled for October 11th. At one point we had 10 signed up and I hated to turn an 11th person down, but our shuttle arrangements were in place for the next day. On the trip morning, 8 set out on the large lake for a 4 hour trip..
It seemed natural that we start the trip at the "upper" end of the river, although, nothing is really "flowing" from a perceptable standpoint. The water in the Palatlakaha just makes its way north. Lake Louisa State Park provided the idea starting place with its beach on the southern end of the lake near the outflow of Big Creek. Although the summer rains in this part of central Florida were probably "normal", but because the 4 year below normal trend (since the Hurricanes of 2004) has left the land, swamps and lakes several feet below the high water mark. Part 2 is planned to be another single day trip from Clermont to the north end of Lake Emma, down river. Apart from the Part 1 trip, I have already scouted 2 sections of the Part 2 paddle - the Lake Minneola to Cherry Lake; and separately, Brown's Ferry boat ramp to the dam at the outflow of Cherry Lake. I need to check out the flood control and property rights considerations. Again, 28 years ago, my friend and I camped on an island (high water made it an island then). The river was secluded, we could get away with that. For all I know, the island has a 4-story timeshare on it now. We named that island KGB Island because we had to fight through some lily pads along a stretch of swamp and we were convinced that our terrible fate with these "suction cupped" canoe grabbers could only be the work of the subversive KGB trying to make our lives immensly miserable (you have to understand this in the context of the time). Oh, and don't be scared off yet, I can tell you from what I saw on July 11th, the plant life is entirely different than before. Lily pads may have succumbed to the capitalist rise soon after the fall of the Soviet Empire. So to answer the question, why August, because I am guessing October will have ideal water levels to do a middle section and even last through until December for the final or "lower" section.
| Part
2 - Clermont to S.R. 565 (written Oct 7, 2008, updated Oct
20th) I took a solo trip on Friday October 3rd on what I call the 2nd tier of the Palatlakaha River. It is the portion that is separated from Cherry Lake just northwest of Clermont by a dam and extends beyond Lake Emma in Villa City, which is really not a city nor a villa, but a place where S.R. 565 (a.k.a Villa City Road) crosses over the Palatlakaha River. Access to this section of the river is via Brown's Ferry boat ramp on S.R. 19 just north of Goveland. This is a first class boat ramp and has recently been rebuilt, as I remember in 1980 it being just a spot on the side of the road with a couple of concrete picnic tables. However, the intent of the Part 2 paddle is to continue from the Clermont boat ramp and take out near the outflow of Lake Emma near S.R. 565, about an 11 to 12 mile stretch. However, there are 2 problems that need to be worked. 1) the dam needs to be breached by simply going around it on land. The land here is firm and in fact the dam incorporates a bridge to what is called Hunt Island. In 1980, my friend and I just portage around these structures without much thought or concern. In fact, we did not know really what to expect when we arrived at each of these (there are several on the entire stretch to Lake Harris), but we just pulled out, carried our canoe the 100 foot to the other side and plopped it in the water and continued on. However, taking an organized group on a trek that involves crossing dams will require appropriate approvals. Currently, the land about each of the dams is "owned" by the Lake County Water District. I will write them a |
 This section is actually wooded and would make for a nice picnic stop. There are high banks ahead and it is easy to disembark from your craft. Note those darn lilly pads still being a pesk. |
| letter
to
see what their take on us routing around these barriers. And the second
problem is exiting at S.R. 565. The property at
the outflow of the
River on the north end of Lake Emma is nearly built up with
private
homes. I guess I will just have to work on some friendly land
owner to
see if I can ask permission. It probably is no accident that
the Lake
County Blueway signs do not invite you to enter the river that leads
out of Cherry Lake and toward the dam. The takeout at S.R. 565 is about 300 yards shy of the second dam. The section I paddled on Oct 3rd is from Browns Ferry to the Cherry Lake dam. It was 3.1 miles one way. There is one small lake and 1 medium sized lake toward the dam end of the route. From Browns Ferry to the first lake is dredged canal that borders the northen edge of the natural swap. The Palatlakaha is really not a River, but more of a "flow through the swamps". Some period during the 20th century they dredged great portions of the river to make the water navigable. Because of the low water conditions, the north side of the canal is firm. Actually both sides are firm because the levels are so low. But not low enough to impede boating, let alone paddlers. There is a long section of this canal that I named the "swamp thing gauntlet" because as my kayak approached whatever was in the water, it swooshed away in a furry stiring up the water and giving me somewhat of a scare. However, I saw no gators. I know they are out there, but I saw none. |
 This section is the "Swamp Thang Gauntlet". Things kept swooping under water when my kayak would approach. Either really big fish or very small gators. |
| This
picture is the dam on the outflow of Cherry Lake which is on the other
side. When
I was
there, there was no flow of water. I looked up the water
levels
of the 2 gaging stations shown in this picture, there was a 2 inch
difference. You can see the firm ground on the road bed.
This road is really a driveway. The road is not
paved, but
leads back to a house on Hunt Island (the right side). Note
the
orange barriers. Someone has pushed them aside.
Because of
their existence, I suspect that the county will be reluctant to allow
passage. There is a good update on both of these above issues regarding the second leg traversing the Palatlakaha River: 1. I called Lake County Water Management regarding the portage around the dams. They said, YEP! They sent me some information and a waive form with dates that I must fill out and return. It is specifically for canoe and kayaking. So they do accomodate those that want to "do adventure". 2. I got bold and wrote up a letter to a land owner on the north end of Lake Emma after scouting the area back on August 8th. Using the Lake County Property appraiser's web site, I got the name and address of a person that has a vacant lot on the north end. They receive my letter, but left a message on my home phone recorder. I call him on Tuesday the 21st and we talked. He had no problem with disembarking from our kayaks and hauling them out to the street. In fact, he offered to allow us to drive up to the shore to pick them up. He was very friendly gentleman. I told him I would call him back with a firm date. |
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| Part
1 of the Ocklawaha River Basin Paddle - The Upper Palatlakaha River (the details). The first excursion begins near the southern most end of the Ocklawaka River Basin in a swamp creek called Big Creek located within Lake Louisa State Park. We are not going to the furtherest reaches of the Green Swamp, but we will launch just enough into it that we can lay claim that we started in the vast region of central Florida called the Great Green Swamp. I highly recommend a visit to the website, as the Southwest Florida Water District has put together a very informative presentation. August 8th Update: since original writings: Big Creek still lacks water. Even with considerable rains, the Green Swamp is currently a huge dry sponge, and until the sponge saturates, there will be no flow of any of the internal creeks of the swamp. In fact, while near the shoreline of the lakes and creeks, you can see the high water mark on the trees for which the current levels are nearly four feet below. In leiu of traversing Big Creek, we will launch from the beach at the state park which is indicated on the map to the right as the symbol of the human swimming. October 3rd Update: From the second tier (the part behind the Cherry Lake dam), I don't think Fay made to much of an inpact in southern Lake County, maybe north, but the Green Swamp, needing so much rain, did not get sufficient to make too much of a difference in water height. This is evident from reading some of the gaging stations. All the lakes in the Clermont chain of lakes are tanic or brown. The density varies from 3 to 4 feet of visibility. Actually the water is quite clean in the sense that without the tanin, the water is pretty much free of suspended particulates and lacks the pea green color of the Harris chain of lakes. From the park, we will take the western flank of Lake Louisa. This is a very big lake! It is 3.1 miles to the the northern outflow called Crooked Creek. See second picture below. This is where the Palatlakaha begins. We will have an opportunity to stop at a boat ramp shortly after we enter the waterway. It is a windy creek for about a mile and empties into Lake Susan, which is relatively small lake, about 6 tenths of a mile across. Then we enter another small portion of the Palatlakaha where Lakeside drive crosses over. This is the place I launched in 1980. Once you enter into Lake Minnehaha, you have hit another big one. This is not as big as Louisa, but close. We will make a Northwest run across the middle of the lake to the County Road 561 river bridge. This is a very short portion of the river as you enter into Lake Palatlakaha after passing under the bridge. The underpass will provide another place to stop a stretch our legs and snack. Lake Palatlakaha is relatively small. We can hug the swampy-cypress western shore for the sightings of gators and osprey that abound. I have kayaked this portion just this July from the top of Minnehaha all the way to Cherry Lake, 15 miles. It was too long for a summer run. (continue to the right --->) |
 As we exit Lake Palatlakaha and back onto the river, there is evidence of mid-20th century dredging as the river is staight. In less than a mile you enter into a small lake called Hiawatha and the bridge to the north east is but a short distance. Once under the bridge, which happens to be Country Road 561 again, you are presented with the expansive Lake Minneola and the sighting of the Citrus Tower directly east. This lake, although massive, is even smaller than Minnehaha. From here it is but a short distance to the Clermont boat ramp as well as "downtown" Clermont. |
| Part 1 of the Ocklawaha River Basin
Paddle - The Upper Palatlakaha River. (just the basics) All participants must meet at the Lake Louisa State Park launch at around 8:00 AM so we can launch at 8:30. (See Map) This is one trip that I will most assuredly leave on time. We need to get an early start as this is an August trip on lakes that have no spring water. I am guessing we will be off the water by 12:30 to 1:30. Expect the heat, but take on the pioneer attitude and sweat it out none the less. Consider this a grand opportunity to start a long journey through a vast length of Central Florida. To survive, you must have:\
Where is this park? (See Map) Four distinct notes regarding access to this Park.
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 This picture is the Palatlakaha (really it is called Crooked Creek) between Lake Louisa and Lake Susan. The blue line is a road and has nothing to do with the trip. I
will also mention, that the Friday I made the Lake Louisa test run, the
weather wanted to get an early start. I was in the water at
about
10:45, it was pouring rain at 11:15. Howerver, because I
stuck
close to shore, I just cruised up under one of those fancy boat docks
with a roof and stayed completely dry. I rained about 8 to 10
minutes, then it quit for the remainder of the day.
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This
picture depicts the starting point of the paddle route, departing from
Big Creek within Lake Louisa State Park. The red line is the
path
we will follow. The big lake is Louisa, the small one at the
very
top is Susan. |
This
picture depicts the segment from Lake Susan to the Clermont Boat Ramp
(red route only). Starting from the bottom, Lake Susan, Lake Minnehaha,
Lake Palatlakaha, Lake Hiawatha, and finally Lake Minneola and back
south to the boat ramp in Clermont. The blue route represents
a
15-mile exploritory round-trip up to Cherry Lake I made July 11th.
It is here were I determined the 90oz fluid
requirement.  |
This is the drive into the park from the entrance. You can see Lake Louisa in the distance. There is some pretty good vertical relief within this park, but this picture can't capture it. This is also a great place to cycle. |
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| This is a different lake within the park. This shot is from the porch of one of the dozen or so cabins that have. The cabins are superior looking. Along the same lines as Silver River State Park. |  |
| Again nice, cabins; maybe event a better generation than Silver River, which are very nice. The down side: not a tree in sight |  |
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| This is Crooked Creek between Lakes Louisa and Susan. Somewhat of an interesting run. Of course there is no flow of water. For the most part is has no development on it. It is about 1.5 miles long. Except for the boat launch, there is not a place to take out here. |  |
| I wanted everyone to know that the State Park does not have a launch. Sometimes I really wonder about State Parks and where their thought process comes from. The lake is a form of recreation and although there is a county motor boat launch on Crooked Creek, you would think they would accommodate canoes and kayaks by having a launching area closer to the lake. There is about 250 foot of boardwalk and about 200 feet of beach you have to traverse to get to the water. |  |
| I had this vision that Big Creek was, well, BIG. This is one of the outflows from the Great Green Swamp. Unfortunately, the Swamp is currently in a recharge phase, even with normal or above normal rain falls. I suspect this Creek would only be navigable during flood stages and not during even normal conditions. |  |